34 
In concluding this chapter, it may be proper just to mention, that Bo¬ 
tanists have made three great classes, or divisions, of the Vegetable world, 
from the observance of the Cotyledons (Pobuli) , and Seminal Leaves fFo¬ 
lia deminalia) ; and have divided Plants into 
I. MONOCOTYLEDONES, f Plants having one Cotyledon. 
II. DICOTYLEDONES4 .. two Cotyledons. 
III. ACOTYLEDOMES, § ... no apparent Cotyledon. 
We may remark in a few words concerning this method, that the dis¬ 
tinction of classes from the number of lobes, or seminal leaves, as is done by 
Ray, is of all others the most unsatisfactory: 
For if the unknown plant has passed, though never so little, its first stage 
of vegetation, so that the expansion of the lobes of the seed are no longer 
visible, in vain do we attempt even the first advance, and have to stop, until 
its ripened seeds have, in germinating, protruded its seminal leaves: and 
then we have again to wait until it grows up, and produces perfectly its 
leaves, flowers, and fruit. 
3. Others, about Midsummer, wait for the first opportunity of rain, or when the heavens threaten 
an immediate shower, when they sow their turnip-seed; for the natural heat of the ground, aided by 
moisture, especially at this season, gives an uncommon quick vegetation to the seed, which will be 
up in a few days, and out of all danger from the fly. 
4. As the sweet smell of the turnip has been thought by some to attract the fly, attempts have 
been made to overpower that smell by others that were found from experience to be disagreeable. 
Hence some stiew soot and tobacco over the field when the turnips appear; and others again trail 
over the young turnips the boughs of the elder tree, fixed in a gait or hurdle, most usually fumigated 
with the smoke of burnt tobacco mixed with a small quantity of affafoetida. 
5. Others, again, attempt to suffocate these insects by the smoke of burning weeds. 
6. Others spread lime over the young plants, but as only covering the outer surface of the 
leaves, the under parts remain unprotected, and the lightest rains washing off the lime, it can be 
esteemed only a partial remedy. 
/• As the fly in immense swarms appear in a field, and in a few days after not unfrequently take 
err flight to some other field, some farmers taking advantage of this, have employed the following 
method. As new seeds vegetate sooner than old, they make an equal mixture of the two, and sow 
t ’em, m hopes that if the early plants are destroyed, the fly may take its flight before the others are 
in a condition to entice them; and some, for the same purpose, steep the seed for two days, and sow 
this, with an equal quantity of dry seed. 
8. But the device of Mr. Reynolds is the most curious, who sows double the quantity of radish as 
o turnip seed, for the radish he found was most agreeable to the flies, who fall upon these first; 
an whilst they are engaged with these, the turnips get so far advanced, as to be out of all danger. 
rom y.ovcc, and Cotyledon, a cotyledon, here used for the lobe, or seminal leaf, being such 
plants as have one lobe, and consequently rise with only one seminal leaf 
1 From I,, two, and Cotyledon, a cotyledon, plants whose seeds have two lobes, and generally 
rise with two seminal leaves. Most plants are of this kind. 
or ,!J: 0m 7 n0t ’ andC ° TYLED r 0N ’ a cotyledon; plants whose seeds are not furnished with cotyledons, 
mo e h C T qUe r y PUt rth "° S£minal leaTCS - TheSR P arts ’ as “ mushrooms, ferns, and 
mosses, have not as yet been ascertained, but they most probably exist in them, as well as the others. 
